terrarium - Orchid Board

raborchids · #1 04-24-2007, 11:28 AM

i have an 18 gallon tank. that i am very slowly turning into a terrarium. I am going to putting alot of min orchids in the terrarium. i have of the orchids now.
i am going to put masdevallia, dracula, denrobium ( about two of each or maybr just one.) i had a question about lighting, what can i use and what can i not use

Shadow · #2 04-24-2007, 11:49 AM

Is it going to be a cold terrarium?

Faerygirl · #3 04-24-2007, 12:56 PM

18 gallons is really very small for a terrarium if its a true closed system. EVen if you just use the regular lights that come on an aquarium hood, your temp may get to 78-80F.

I have a 135 gallon tank set up with 2 flora grows from the Petsmart store and the temp stays 75-76 in that with the lights on 24 hours a day for some bromeliads and an Angraecum.

I am not an expert though.

Tindomul · #4 04-24-2007, 02:22 PM

Why do you keep the lights on 24 hours a day????

Your plants need night time too to complete their metabolic process.

See if you can look into T5's as they are the brightest per watt of any. Or if you are growing shade plants, any 40 watt T8 or T12 will do. You will find those at the pet store.

Shadow · #5 04-24-2007, 03:08 PM

Your plants need night! Do not torture them.

raborchids · #6 04-24-2007, 04:38 PM

I would used my hubby's 110 gallon tank but he is currently has it full of fish ( and he will never give it to me for our orchids). my 18 gallon which had my beta till it died. I like the mirco and mini orchids. I saw at an orchid show here locally where someone entered in a bow tank terrarium with nothing but mini orchids in it.
I want to light it, but i want to make sure i use a light that will not harm the plants. I have read up on terrariums now. after seeing the bow tank at the orchid show i want to really want to try it and see what happens. I guess the tank would get heated from the heating of the house, I really want it to be a cool growing terrarium. I plan on buying some plants from andy's and others from orchid show around where i live. Lucky for me there are two shows left for the year.
I have one tiny madevallia that i want to put into it.and there is one more i hope to buy before the end of show season here. I now it is small. but i like tiny plants, and i hope to keep the plant safe from my kids ( my son and the cat)once there in the 18 gallon tall tank.

smartie2000 · #7 04-24-2007, 04:43 PM

For masd., I think your tank will be fine.

I wouldn't put dends in it. They seem to like higher light, but I am not the dend wiz. Maybe there are a few species appropriate since it is such a diverse genus

raborchids · #8 04-24-2007, 05:09 PM

true, right now i just want to clean it up. i have a madevallia carruthersiana that i want ot put in it. but i really want to get a masdevallia nidifica for it.

Faerygirl · #9 04-24-2007, 08:40 PM

Sorry I meant to type 14 hours a day not 24!!!!! Yikes!!!! I would not torture my plants believe me!

Shadow · #10 04-25-2007, 03:33 AM

14 hours is OK. I believe you this time.